Introduction to Pet Guinea Pig Care

Series Summary

The guinea pig is a rather interesting creature in that it is neither a pig, nor does it come from Guinea. It remains unclear where exactly this nomenclature originated; perhaps the rodent’s resemblance in sound and appearance to a pig is to blame. Nevertheless, the common guinea pig was cultivated around 4000 years ago in South America, and has since been used as a scapegoat for evil spirits, a mobile food source, and an exotic pet.

Guinea pigs are large for rodents, and are less mobile than their rat or squirrel cousins. In the wild, they tend to be social animals, and are found in herds, much like cows. They take one mate for life, which is on average four to eight years. As pets, these rodents do well, since they are usually kept indoors, in a clean, dry cage. This helps prevent many of the diseases to which the guinea pig is prone to having.

In this free video series, learn how to care for your pet guinea pig. An expert will show you tips and techniques to use for bathing and housing your pet, as well as the proper way to pick up and handle guinea pigs. Pay special attention to the important nutritional information concerning food and vitamin C intake.

Video Transcript

"Hi, my name is Sarah, and I am here at Extra Care Animal Hospital in Davey, Florida, today, and on behalf of Expert Village.com, I am going to educate you a little bit about owning a guinea pig. Guinea pigs, or cavies as they are sometimes called, are docile rodents native to the Andean Mountains of South America. They were first domesticated by the Andean Indians of Peru. During the 16th Century, Dutch explorers introduced the guinea pigs to Europe, where they were selectively bred for different hair coats as well as color variations. The guinea pigs entered their research laboratories in the 18th Century and have since made a significant contribution to scientific research. To this day, guinea pigs remain a favorite pet for children and family due to their clean nature, ease of handling and docile nature. Guinea pigs generally live from four to six years of age. We have seen guinea pigs get as old anywhere from eight to ten years of age with very good quality diet and quality veterinarian care. If you would like more information about Extra Care Animal Hospital, you can look up our website at www.extracareanimalhospital.net."